OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — Annexation has been a hot button issue lately, but this time folks are asking for it. A group of Oak Island residents has organized a petition, requesting to be annexed into Caswell Beach.

Marc Younginer is one of about 160 property owners in Oak Island Estates, a neighborhood surrounding the golf course. Three out of four sides surrounding it are part of the town of Caswell Beach and now residents want in.

“When you come across that bridge, it would make sense that everything to left is Caswell Beach and everything to the right is Oak Island, so logistically it would make sense,” Younginer says. “When I came to Oak Island and I saw my taxes, I decided this just wasn’t right for us by being with Caswell Beach.”

Property owners say besides their taxes, if they are annexed into Caswell Beach, their property values could be higher. Neighbors have circulated a petition in favor of the annexation, and in a few weeks time they say more than half have signed it.

“80 percent of the neighborhood showed up at my house about a month ago at my house, everybody signed the petition and it’s moving forward pretty fast,” Younginer says.

Younginer says residents hope to get 100 percent of the property owners on board with the annexation. He feels confident the town of Caswell Beach would roll out the red carpet for them.

“They have welcomed us with opened arms,” he says. “The mayor of Caswell Beach has said he’d be more than happy to see us come into Caswell Beach.”

Younginer says organizers are shooting to get the petition to state legislators this session, but says realistically it may not happen until next year.